Antonio Delgado declared to a crowd of supporters and family, "It's a new day for New York's 19th."

After winning one of the most hotly contested races in the country, part of a national "blue wave" that allowed Democrats to retake the House of Representatives, Delgado said he would "build upon our shared values" in his role representing the 19th Congressional District.

"Values that I was raised on right here in upstate New York," the Rhinebeck resident told an audience at Kingston's Senate Garage Tuesday. "Values that I learned in Schenectady and values that I came across all across this district, no matter what county or town... no matter how red or how blue."

Retts Scauzillo of Woodstock, N.Y. center, and other supporters of congressional candidate Antonio Delgado, cheer upon hearing that the Democrats had retaken the House of Representatives while awaiting election results at the Senate Garage in Kingston, N.Y. Nov. 6, 2018. Delgado was running against incumbent Republican John Faso for New York's 19th congressional district seat. Seth Harrison/Poughkeepsie Journal

Sherry Gaunt of Kingston, N.Y. a supporter of congressional candidate Antonio Delgado, waves her American flag as she awaits election results at the Senate Garage in Kingston Nov. 6, 2018. Delgado was running against incumbent Republican John Faso for New York's 19th congressional district seat. Seth Harrison/The Journal News

Supporters of congressional candidate Antonio Delgado, cheer upon hearing that the Democrats had retaken the House of Representatives while awaiting election results at the Senate Garage in Kingston, N.Y. Nov. 6, 2018. Delgado was running against incumbent Republican John Faso for New York's 19th congressional district seat. Seth Harrison/Poughkeepsie Journal

Supporters of congressional candidate Antonio Delgado, cheer upon hearing that the Democrats had retaken the House of Representatives while awaiting election results at the Senate Garage in Kingston, N.Y. Nov. 6, 2018. Delgado was running against incumbent Republican John Faso for New York's 19th congressional district seat. Seth Harrison/Poughkeepsie Journal

Supporters of congressional candidate Antonio Delgado, cheer upon hearing that the Democrats had retaken the House of Representatives while awaiting election results at the Senate Garage in Kingston, N.Y. Nov. 6, 2018. Delgado was running against incumbent Republican John Faso for New York's 19th congressional district seat. Seth Harrison/Poughkeepsie Journal

Antonio Delgado gets a home made congratulations card from is niece Melina after defeating incumbent John Faso in New York's 19th Congressional District race Nov. 6, 2018. Delgado and his supporters were celebrating at the Senate Garage in Kingston, New York. Seth Harrison/Poughkeepsie Journal

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Delgado's opponent, incumbent Republican John Faso, of Kinderhook, called him to concede. Delgado received 132,001 votes compared to Faso's 124,408, with all 619 districts reporting, according to the New York State Board of Elections. Green Party candidate Steven Greenfield had 4,0317 votes, while actress Diane Neal, an Independent candidate from Hurley, had 2,619.

All results are unofficial.

In a concession speech, Faso said "I am proud of the tenure that I had."

CLOSE

Antonio Delgado, a Democrat from Rhinebeck, is hoping to unseat incumbent Rep. John Faso, a Republican from Kinderhook. Here's a closer look at the race, including interviews with district voters. Video by Jack Howland/Poughkeepsie Journal.
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Delgado said he plans to focus on issues including equality, freedom, accountability, integrity and service. He also said being a Congressman means "being beholden to the people who put you in office — not special interests.

"As your Congressman," he said, "you have my word that that is exactly what I'll do."

The 19th Congressional District stretches from Dutchess and Ulster counties up toward the Capital District and Southern Tier.

The position carries a two-year term with an annual salary of $174,000.

Polls leading up to the election showed a neck-and-neck competition between Delgado and Faso. Throughout the election, the two sparred on issues ranging from immigration reform, to food expense assistance, to gun control.

Retts Scauzillo of Woodstock, N.Y. center, and other supporters of congressional candidate Antonio Delgado, cheer upon hearing that the Democrats had retaken the House of Representatives while awaiting election results at the Senate Garage in Kingston, N.Y. Nov. 6, 2018. Delgado was running against incumbent Republican John Faso for New York's 19th congressional district seat.(Photo: Seth Harrison/Poughkeepsie Journal)

Health care was among the most contentious issues of the election. Faso, who voted in favor of the failed American Health Care Act, voiced support for replacing Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act; Delgado said he was in favor of adding a public option to the Affordable Care Act to allow people to opt into Medicare.